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Exclusive: 2013 Bible Review – Felt Edict Nine 3

April 3, 2013 | Bikes

Felt’s smartly dressed, Edict Nine 3 carbon 29er is more than just a good value, it’s an excellent choice for aggressive XC racers desiring a fast and nimble bike.

The 100-millimeter-travel, full-carbon Felt Edict Nine 3 was a real surprise, winning high regard among testers, in part due to its excellent performance at such a reasonable price.

The Felt’s geometry felt good—not as stretched as some but still fast and nimble without being overly twitchy—making it ideal for short-course sprints or endurance racing. It had refreshingly clean cable routing aligned on the top of the downtube, and tidy pivot hardware.

The Felt Edict Nine 3 pedaled well, thanks to what we felt was a progressive rear suspension, leading one tester to increase his sag setting on the trail to gain some extra comfort. The Felt has a very race-orientated tune, more suited to riders looking for a strict, bare-bones racing package, or someone used to aggressive bikes who wants the type of sportiness usually reserved for a hardtail.

We were pleased to see a full 2×10 SRAM drivetrain on this bike, an ideal setup for the race-ready format of this bike. The Avid Elixir 3 brakes are a simple and firm favorite that are more than adequate for the application. More so, one tester pointed out WTB’s I23 rims as being a real component highlight, as the rims allow for great tire footprint and, for their modest weight, are still very capable.

Overall, the Felt Edict Nine 3 is a remarkable value for the money. A stacked parts kit, a clever and efficient suspension tune, and a full-carbon frame at a price point often reserved for aluminum bikes opens the doors to cut-throat cross-country bikes for more riders. Its performance is far from bargain
basement and had us questioning the wisdom of spending twice as much f or some of the other bikes on test.